West Virginia May Move Up Byrd Special Election Date

State lawmakers in West Virginia say there's a chance the special election to replace the late Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd could be moved up to this year.

Byrd died at the age of 92 earlier this week, and Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin will soon appoint an interim successor to fill Byrd's seat until there is a special election. Ambiguous state rules made it unclear whether the special election should be scheduled for this fall or the fall of 2012. However, West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant ruled Monday that the special election would take place in 2012.

However, Charleston's Republican Mayor Danny Jones said he thinks the legislature, when it convenes for a special session this July, could vote to move up the date of the special election, CBS affiliate WVNS reports. Manchin would have to put the issue on the agenda for the special session, which is supposed to focus on education.

Manchin's office did not respond immediately to a request for comment, but Jones said he has reason to believe the governor could add the item to the July agenda, WVNS reports.

West Virginia's Republican Party said Monday it is "examining its legal options" with respect to the date of the special elections, the Hill reports, while the state Democratic Party is also undecided on how to proceed, according to the Washington Post.

"The Democratic Party in the state of West Virginia always believes giving our citizens an opportunity to vote is always the right thing to do," state Democratic Party Chairman Larry Puccio told the Post.

Meanwhile, the state attorney general's office said this week it would review Tennant's decision to hold the election in 2012 to make sure it is legally sound.

Manchin earlier this week told the Associated Press that he would not appoint himself as Byrd's interim successor, but CBS News chief political consultant Marc Ambinder reports that Manchin is believed to be interested in a Senate run. On the Republican side, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito says she is "thinking about" a bid for the seat, CBS News Capitol Hill producer Jill Jackson reports.

Byrd's body will lie in repose in the Senate chamber today, and President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will travel to West Virginia tomorrow to attend the state memorial service for the Senate's longest-serving member.